Shreya Ghoshal has stirred up significant discussion recently due to her candid remarks about her past work, particularly the raunchy song 'Chikni Chameli' from the movie Agneepath, which features actress Katrina Kaif. During an interview, Ghoshal revealed her embarrassment over the song, opening up about how her views on its impact have evolved over time.
The popular playback singer shared her thoughts with Canadian YouTuber Lilly Singh, stating, "I have a handful of songs which could be borderline raunchy, like Chikni Chameli. There is very fine line between being sexual and sexy or being out there just making yourself objectified. Why I am a little conscious about this now over time is because I see young little girls singing this song." She's particularly alarmed by the fact young children, sometimes as young as five or six, belt out the lyrics without grasping their meaning.
Ghoshal expressed concern over this phenomenon, noting, "They come and say, ‘I love your music, can I sing this in front of you?’ And then, I feel very embarrassed. A little girl who is hardly 5-6 years old, she is singing this and it doesn’t suit or sound good. I don’t want what, so I have been conscious about over time." This has led her to advocate for more thoughtful lyrical content crafted by women, emphasizing the harmful objectification often present in pop culture.
Despite her critique of the song, Ghoshal faced backlash soon after as she performed 'Chikni Chameli' on the reality show Indian Idol. The contrasting actions sparked criticism on social media, with users calling out her apparent hypocrisy. Critics argued it was contradictory for Ghoshal to admit feelings of shame yet continue to perform the song, bringing her integrity and artistic choices under scrutiny.
Commentators highlighted the irony: one user remarked, “Entitlement is real with this one,” emphasizing how her words of morality appeared hollow when juxtaposed with her performance. Another added, “Everyone enjoyed Chikni Chameli at some point, but I don't know why she chose to sing it there.” This sparked considerable debate over whether artists can live up to the moral standards they espouse.
Ghoshal continues to advocate for more appropriate depictions of women in music and film, stating, "It isn’t wrong to happily talk about how sexy I am. But, don’t write it in such a way. Maybe, if a woman was writing it, she would have written it in a gracious manner." This perspective emphasizes the need for nuanced discussions about gender representation and the influence of media on young audiences.
She concluded her interview with strong convictions, indicating her desire for progress: "Films and music have a very huge impact on people, it’s a big part of our lives. Any big blockbuster film or song becomes part of history, and I don’t want to become part of history like this." Ghoshal's statements and actions have reignited debates about the role of artists and the messages they convey, particularly how these narratives shape the perceptions of youth.
The controversy surrounding Ghoshal's remarks reflects wider societal tensions, concerning the often-objectifying portrayals of women which are prevalent not just within Indian cinema, but across the global music industry. With her high-profile platform, Shreya Ghoshal's evolution within this space could pave the way for more conscious dialogues around music and its societal impacts, especially as they resonate through younger generations.